SALEM, Ore. — Today, House Democrats, including Rep David Gomberg (D, Otis) passed Senate Bill 1599, effectively ignoring the overwhelming majority of Oregonians who opposed it in public testimony; and disregarding the warning by the Secretary of the State, who cautioned that failing to pass the bill by the February 25 deadline would risk denying voters a “fair and equal chance” to participate in the democratic process. “By passing Senate Bill 1599, Democrats are sending a clear message to the more than 250,000 Oregonians who signed petitions, and the 4,600 Oregonians who opposed this bill, that their voices don’t matter,” said House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer (R, McMinnville). “In passing this bill, the majority party has shown that when upholding democratic processes don’t work in their favor, they are willing to circumvent the law to disenfranchise voters. This sets a dangerous precedent,” she added. Since June 2025, Democrats have made multiple attempts to ask Oregonians to pay more taxes to cover for their inability to hold ODOT accountable to its budget. In total, approx. 7,500 Oregonians opposed these attempts in submitted testimony – representing broad opposition towards new taxes and fees. Similarly, of the 4,670 pieces of testimony submitted for Senate Bill 1599, 98.5% opposed it.
Point Break Fitness co-owner Tracey Taylor welcomes all to get fit in Lincoln City.
This month marks the anniversary of Point Break Fitness located in the Lincoln City Outlets. Point Break Fitness occupies suite 208 with nearly every kind of fitness equipment that anyone of any age or fitness level could need to help achieve their personal fitness goals.
The facility is well lit and welcoming to all. From stationary bikes to free weights, Point Break Fitness has what you’ll need to get started.
According to Co-owner Tracey Taylor he is driven by a desire to serve the community. “We’ve had opportunities to move on but we felt that this is where we can best serve.”
The facility offers a measured walking track within the building so those that want to avoid the rain or cold outside can do some easy walking inside.
Private changing areas are available as well as studio classes throughout the week.
After a short tour it’s clear that Taylor and his staff are proud of what they have created to help Lincoln City residents and visitors. The workout areas are spacious and spotless with plenty of options available for anyone.
The facility features self admitting doors via a downloadable app with Taylor noting that entire facility is well lit and covered by cameras in all workout areas for everyone’s safety.
Stop by Point Break Fitness for a free consultation and fitness evaluation. Located in the Outlets in Suite 208 or call 541-614-4145.
SALEM, Oregon— Starting March 30, 2026, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will no longer waive the parking fee at 22 additional day-use parks.
A day-use parking permit is currently $10 for in-state visitors and $12 for out-of-state visitors and is valid for the entire day of purchase at any Oregon state park.
Access to parks remains free for visitors who walk, bike, or use public transportation. Visitors who drive in can show valid parking by displaying a current hangtag from camping at an Oregon State Park or a current 12 or 24-month parking permit. Visitors who purchase parking permits online or via the parking QR codes can associate their license plates with valid payment.
Currently, OPRD requires a day-use parking permit at 46 parks and waives parking fees at over 150 parks across the state. The 22 additional parks were selected based on amenities and features that require maintenance and operation such as restrooms, trails, paving, irrigation, boat ramps and more. Parking fees help pay for maintenance, operation, and keep these offerings available for all visitors.
“These updates are about protecting the experiences visitors love,” said Interim Director Stefanie Coons. “We know fee changes are tough and we truly appreciate the support from visitors. These changes help us take care of things people count on like restrooms, boat ramps, and trails, so we can keep parks safe, clean, and welcoming for everyone.”
Oregon State Parks has three main sources of funding: a little less than half comes from constitutionally dedicated lottery funds, about 15% comes from recreational vehicle license plate fees and roughly 35% comes from park fees from visitors. It is not funded by general fund taxes.
For frequent visitors looking to save on parking, an annual parking permit is available for Oregon State Parks and can be purchased online. The 12-month parking permit costs $60 for Oregon residents. The 24-month parking permit is no longer for sale, but valid permits will be honored until they expire.
Additionally, March 30 also marks the start of a $10 fee at 19 RV dump stations across the park system. This fee helps cover the cost of maintaining this amenity and supports efforts toward more sustainable operations. Visitors can pay easily by scanning a QR code at the dump station or by paying online.
Whether you are visiting for the day or camping overnight, Oregon State Parks recommends that you visit the park webpage before your visit. Conditions can change quickly and some parks may have construction or seasonal closures.
Oregon state parks with parking fees added March 30, 2026:
Agate Beach State Recreation Area Angel’s Rest Trailhead Banks-Vernonia State Trail Bob Straub State Park Brian Booth State Park Bridal Veil Falls State Scenic Viewpoint Cape Blanco State Park Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint Carl G Washburne Memorial State Park Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area Elijah Bristow State Park Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area Gleneden Beach State Recreation Area Governor Patterson Memorial State Recreation Site Lake Owyhee State Park Latourell Falls Trailhead at Guy Talbot State Park Molalla River State Park Oceanside Beach State Recreation Area Roads End State Recreation Site Umpqua Lighthouse State Park Wallowa Lake State Park William M Tugman State Park
The City of Lincoln City announces the following upcoming meetings
There will be the following meeting(s) held:
Monday, March 2, 2026 – Charter Review Committee Meeting – 3:00 PM in the Council Chambers, 3rd Floor of City Hall
The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired, for a hearing-impaired device, or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities, should be made at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. To request information in an alternate format or other assistance, please contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Kevin Mattias, at 541-996-1221 or [email protected].
Agendas and Agenda packet items for this meeting are available at Public Meetings | City of Lincoln City, OR. City Council meetings (regular and special) are streamed live by click the link: Public Meetings | City of Lincoln City, OR and selecting the meeting you wish to view or by watching channel 4. It will be available there for viewing during the meeting and after it concludes. Those meetings are also televised live on Channel 4. Executive Sessions will not be televised and are not open to the public. Work sessions and Committee Meetings will have audio only posted after the conclusion of the meeting and are open to the public for viewing only.
Agendas and Agenda packet items for this meeting are available at on the City of Lincoln City website under; “Public Meetings/City of Lincoln City, OR. City
Council meetings (regular and special) are streamed live by click the link: “Public Meetings/City of Lincoln City, OR and selecting the meeting you wish to view or by watching cable channel 4.
It will be available there for viewing during the meeting and after it concludes. Those meetings are also televised live on cable Channel 4.
Executive Sessions will not be televised and are not open to the public. Work sessions and Committee Meetings will have audio only posted after the conclusion of the meeting and are open to the public for viewing only.
Agenda can be viewed at: https://www.lincolncity.org/government/public-meetings
In 1976 a high school boy in his Junior year asked a high school girl (also in her Junior year) out on a date. The date was to be for Valentines Day which would fall on the coming Saturday. It was to be their first date. The two kids had known each other since the beginning of the school year in September of 1975. He was a transfer student from a nearby school-the happy accident of family financial catastrophe that forced them to move. She was born and raised in the district-well known and well liked.
They had gotten to know each other fairly well in the months leading up to the date. She initiated the relationship by asking him to gather her homework assignments while she and her family went on a week’s vacation. He said he would and then didn’t. She got mad at him on her return but seemed to forgive him. Though they never saw each other outside of school before the date, they were fairly inseparable, just enjoying each other’s company in the hallways and lunchroom.
More that one teacher commented they had become each other’s shadow. She was studious, thoughtful and an athlete; a swimmer. He was the new kid-still grounded in the friendships from his previous school. He didn’t care for the new school: except for her.
And, yes, the kids do have names; his/mine is Don. Hers is Debbie.
The date was a simple evening out, just a movie at the Village Theatre in east county Portland. For our first Valentines together I gave Debbie an oversized Hershey’s Kiss candy, (flowers would have been too much at that stage).
The movie was The Cassandra Crossing. Why? No idea. It was a single screen theatre and it wasn’t R rated. So that’s what five bucks would get us in to. I don’t remember if we shared a popcorn. I’m pretty sure I would have been too scared to risk being that bold. I did not want her to go away.
The movie was horrible so we left after a few minutes to catch Sissy Spacek in “Carrie” at The Hood Theater in Gresham-I was liking Debbie more and more because we agreed on movies. I do remember feeling pretty proud of myself that I got a frightened arm squeeze at the end of the movie (if you’ve seen “Carrie” you’ll know what I mean).
Details of that night are a little thin in my memory. Mainly what I remember is that Debbie was so pretty. If I had to conjure her wardrobe I’d like to think it was her flannel shirt and bell bottom blue jeans. Her smile was wonderful and she made me feel special each time she would laugh.
I couldn’t believe that she was with me instead of any of dozens of guys she already knew from school. I think the reason she liked me was that I could make her laugh. I think the reason I liked her (beyond being the prettiest girl I’ve ever met) was that she kept me honest. She wasn’t big on bs.
I don’t remember if we held hands during the movies. I was truly terrified to upset her by being too forward. I honestly had no goal except to be important to her.
We watched the entire movie and afterwards headed to her folk’s house by the designated time. We parked at the curb of the house. I opened her car door and we walked the 20 or so feet to her front door. I remembered my adolescent terror as we neared our goodbye.
As we reached her door and faced each other, I leaned toward her to kiss. It’s funny to remember it now; there was no hesitancy, no fear, no doubt. We kissed our first kiss (it was a great kiss by the way). For 2 kids with little to no experience in that arena I think we did pretty good.
I thanked her for going out with me, said “See you on Monday.” She thanked me for the date and said she had had a good time. She went inside her home and I returned to my parent’s borrowed car. That was it-I was hooked for good.
I called her the next day to thank her again and to probe if I had ruined everything by kissing her goodnight. Much to my surprise she seemed to still like me.
From that day on our lives have been intertwined on one level or another. Between various breakups and moronic decisions we stayed in touch. While attending the same college in 1979/80 I asked her to marry me. She said “Yes.”
We married in 1982 and between more various breakups and moronic decisions we have stayed together; Mr. and Mrs. Williams.
Beyond this being a Valentine for my beloved, my wish for all who read this will be that they learn that there is always a tomorrow. There is always a chance for failure and forgiveness, a chance to finish the race they have started. The Holy Bible tells us, “Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered,it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (NASB).
So, what are we doing on this 50th anniversary of our first date and kiss? We are spending the night babysitting our son’s three children so that he and his wife can have a Valentines together. Is it a sacrifice? Not even close.
The lives that surround us now in the shape of our sons and their children all began with that kiss on a doorstep in 1976.
Engagement night!
There are no words to say ‘thank you’ enough to God and to you Debbie for the gift that was created that night. Happy Valentines Day my sweetheart.
TROUTDALE, Oregon— Oregon State Parks is inviting youth ages 6–17 to share their creativity and connection to nature through the Youth Audio Story Contest.
Oregon’s landscapes have long inspired stories, from rushing rivers to old-growth forests. This contest encourages young park visitors to add their voices to that tradition by submitting original, youth-narrated audio stories inspired by the outdoors.
The contest highlights the Columbia River Gorge, known for its beauty, cultural significance, and ecological richness. Stories may reflect real experiences, such as a favorite trail or a wildlife encounter, or imaginative adventures set in Oregon’s natural spaces.
The selected winning story will be featured as part of the Accessible Gorge Audio Trails project on the Accessible Gorge website, an online resource that aims to break down informational barriers for visitors and residents with disabilities. The winning story will also be available to listen to via a QR code at select trailheads in the Columbia River Gorge, offering visitors a unique youth perspective.
Entries may be submitted individually or in groups of up to three. A parent or legal guardian must submit the entry.
Key Dates
• Submission deadline: Friday, February 20 at 11:59 p.m. PST
• Winner notified by email, and the winning entry will be announced on the Oregon State Parks’ website: February 28
For more information about the Youth Audio Story Contest or the Accessible Gorge Audio Trails project, visit the contest webpage.
Includes updates to fishing, hunting, crabbing, clamming, and wildlife viewing.
February 5, 2026
Come visit us at the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show Feb. 11-15 at the Portland Expo Center. Stop by our booth to chat about your hunt plans for 2026 or let us help you plan. Join the ODFW Passport activity and participate in magnet fishing at the entrance and win prizes. Enter the Trip of a Lifetime raffle to join ODFW on a fishing research trip in Oregon’s marine reserves or on a Rocky Mountain goat survey in northeast Oregon. Join one of our seminars to hear more about fishing and hunting opportunities from our biologists. ODFW in partnership with the Sportsmen Shows is offering free admission to 2026 Pioneer license holders; show your 2026 Pioneer license and photo ID at the door to get in free. We’ll see you there!
Check ODOT Trip Check online for statewide road conditions, closures and updates before you go.
It’s your last chance to hunt geese in the NW Permit Zone as season ends in mid-February.
NEW turkey hunting opportunity: now through February 28, 2026, hunters may obtain a beardless turkey permit to allow the harvest of three hen wild turkeys or turkeys without a visible beard. See page 26 of the Game Bird regulations. This is a private land only hunt with separate regulations from the standard fall turkey hunt.
Complete your Spring Bear controlled hunt application by Feb. 10. Season opens April 1; look for our annual hunting forecast in late March.
Reminder that a Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation is required for all winter steelhead anglers fishing in the Rogue Basin or on the South Coast from Dec. 1-April 30. A wild steelhead harvest tag is required to keep wild winter steelhead in this area.
As a general reminder for Anglers: Maximize distance from bank anglers and other boats. Safely row or motor around anglers and other boats and avoid motoring nearshore and in shallow areas!
Check the zone in which you intend to fish before you head out. Access can change quickly with winter flooding, snow and ice conditions.
Northwest:
Winter steelhead fishing has picked up on the North Coast this past week and has been fair to good. The Nestucca River, Wilson, and North Fork Nehalem Rivers have all been fishing well and will provide some of the best opportunity to catch hatchery steelhead.
Coffenbury Lake, Vernonia Pond, Lost Lake, and Sunset Lake are stocked with surplus hatchery winter steelhead. Catching a steelhead in still water can be a fun and unique experience when the conditions on the rivers aren’t good.
Southwest:
This is good time of year for Chinook anglers to check wild Chinook bag limits for the locations they are planning to fish.
Lost Creek Reservoir has had great reports by folks trolling for rainbow trout.
Ice fishing has started at Diamond Lake and some other areas.
Willamette:
Several waterbodies will be stocked with trout Through February and March. .
Central:
Broodstock rainbow trout were stocked into Haystack Reservoir, Ochoco Reservoir, Pine Nursery Pond, North Twin Lake and South Twin Lakes the last week of January. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to catch trophy trout from Wizard Falls Hatchery, many in the 4-8 lb range. As a reminder, to allow everyone a chance at catching one of these fish, only one fish over 20 inches long can be harvested each day.
The Crooked and Metolius Rivers continue to provide excellent winter angling opportunities. Excellent dry fly and nymphing opportunities on Fall River.
Northeast:
Trout and whitefish fishing should be good through winter on the Wallowa River.
Steelhead are throughout the Grande Ronde, Wallowa, and Imnaha Rivers.
Kokanee fishing has been good on Wallowa Lake.
Perch fishing has been good at Phillips Reservoir with some large fish caught.
Steelhead fishing is good on the Umatilla River.
Trout can still be found on Willow Creek Reservoir.
Southeast:
Best fishing for wild, native trout in the Klamath Basin will be the Klamath River.
The Upper Williamson River above Kirk Road Bridge is now open year round. Access remains available.
There are some nice holdover trout in the Malheur River below Warmsprings.
Crappie are abundant in Wolf Creek Reservoir with some nicer fish around 8 inches available. Crappie fishing in Owhyee Reservoir has been good.
Channel catfish are a popular option. Find them in the Snake River and Owyhee Reservoir throughout the summer and early fall.
Biologists expect a temporary boost in productivity at Howard and Hyatt as large stretches of inundation zone are rewatered and producing aquatic food items again. Trout should be fat and happy!
Anglers have been catching good numbers of perch and some nice sized tiger muskies in Phillips Reservoir.
Marine
Crabbing is slow in Newport, good in Florence. Crab quality is good with lots of meat.
Refer to the zone reports for more details and possibilities.
Angler Education:
Steelhead 101 and other angler education opportunities are available. Check the schedule at Angler workshops and events.
Turkey hunting and Rifle Skills now available in workshops and events.Prepare for the hunt season, learn new skills or refresh for a more successful harvest. Plan your outdoor seasonal calendar now.
SALEM, Oregon— Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking one volunteer to serve on the All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Advisory Committee and ATV Grant Subcommittee and two volunteers on the ATV Highway Access Committee.
The ATV Advisory Committee opening is for “at-large ATV user”. The ATV Highway Access Committee positions are for “ATV User” and “member of the public”. All positions are four-year terms.
The seventeen-member ATV Advisory Committee meets once or twice a year. Duties include reviewing accidents and fatalities resulting from ATV recreation; reviewing changes to statutory vehicle classifications as necessary for safety considerations; reviewing safety features of all classes of ATVs; and recommending appropriate safety requirements to protect child and adult ATV operators.
The ATV Grant Subcommittee is responsible for reviewing and recommending grant funding in support of ATV recreational activities throughout the state. The grants support operations and maintenance, law enforcement, emergency medical services, land acquisition, safety/education, planning and development.
The Grant Subcommittee holds up to four public meetings per year that may be conducted either in-person or remotely. Computer access and experience is mandatory.
The ATV Highway Access Committee meets on demand, based on applications submitted. Duties include evaluating proposed ATV use on sections of State Highway rights-of-way and submitting a report to the Oregon Transportation Commission with a recommendation. Short sections of State Highways are proposed by local communities in order to make connections to ATV recreation areas.
Ideal candidates representing the interests of ATV trail users can live anywhere in Oregon with experience in at least one of the following areas:
Land management
Recreation planning
Trail planning or design
Recreation related volunteerism, or
A trail enthusiast who is uniquely qualified to evaluate statewide project proposals through other experience and involvement.
Strong candidates may also demonstrate an awareness of statewide recreational trail needs, other broad recreational issues and the importance of providing accessible recreational opportunities.
To apply for one of the open positions, go to the ATV-AC webpage and click the “Committee Interest Form” link at the bottom of the section. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. March 2, 2026.
For more information, contact Jeff Trejo, OPRD ATV Safety Education Coordinator, at [email protected] or 503-586-9622.
“If you receive an unsolicited text message claiming to be from ODOT or DMV saying you owe money for an unpaid traffic fine or toll balance, it’s a scam. Do not click any links or provide payment or personal identifying information,” said Oregon DMV Public Information Officer Chris Crabb. “These are fake messages designed to steal your personal and financial information. We recommend you delete the message and block the sender.
”The latest scam messages are sent from an unknown phone number and typically begin with urgent language such as, “Evasion Notice for Oregon Traffic Court” or “Final Notice – Toll Violation (Oregon). The messages claim you have an unpaid traffic fine or toll balance and demand payment by a certain date to avoid enforcement actions and penalties. The texts may cite a phony Oregon State Administrative Code and urge you to click on a fraudulent URL that may seem valid because it includes ODOT, DMV or oregon.gov.
How to protect yourself
Do not click on links or respond to unsolicited messages claiming to be from ODOT or DMV.
Be cautious of any text message that demands immediate action or asks for personal information or payment.
Do not provide personal, financial or vehicle information through unknown websites.
Ignore and delete the text message and block the number to prevent further potential harm.
Report scams and suspicious communications to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Include the sender’s phone number and any links included in the text.
What to do if you clicked on a link or provided personal information
Secure your personal information and financial accounts.
ODOT and Oregon DMV will never request payment through an unsolicited text message, email, phone call or third-party website. You can always verify a message’s legitimacy by contacting ODOT directly at 1-888-Ask-ODOT and DMV directly at 1-855-540-6655. For more information about fraud prevention, visit oregondmv.com.
Loraine Butler, Alfred “Buddy” Lane, IV, and Selene Rilatos were elected to the Tribal Council of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians in an election held Saturday, Feb. 7. Butler, from Siletz, Ore., was elected with 375 votes; Lane, from Siletz, Ore., was elected with 464 votes; and Rilatos, from Toledo Ore., was elected with 469 votes. Seven candidates ran for the three open positions and the three who received the most votes were elected. These individuals will serve alongside Delores Pigsley, Alfred “Bud” Lane III, Judy Muschamp, Robert Kentta, Reggie Butler, Jr., and Gerald Ben. Term of office is three years for each position on the nine-member council. Enrolled members of the Siletz Tribe who are age 18 and older are eligible to vote in tribal elections. The tribe has more than 5,700 enrolled members. The swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected council members took place Feb. 8. Officers are elected on an annual basis and those selected for 2026 include: • Delores Pigsley, chairman • Bud Lane III, vice chairman • Robert Kentta, treasurer • Judy Muschamp, secretary Pigsley currently has served 40.5 years as tribal chairman out of 47 years on the council, while Bud Lane has 28; Loraine Butler, 21; Robert Kentta, 20 years; Selene Rilatos, 6 years; Gerald Ben, 5 years; Buddy Lane, 3 years; and Judy Muschamp, 3 years; Reggie Butler, 1 year.
The Siletz Tribe has spent the last 48 years rebuilding its government and economic structure. The signing of Public Law 95-195 in 1977, which restored government-to-government relations between the Siletz Tribe and the federal government, started this process. The Siletz Tribe was the second in the nation – and the first in Oregon – to achieve restoration. The Siletz Tribe was among the first to become a self-governance tribe, giving tribal government more control over services provided to enrolled members. Under self-governance, the U.S. government provides general funding to the tribe (rather than to specific programs), then tribal employees and the Tribal Council decide how funds will be spent.
For more information on the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the tribal government, or the history of the tribe, you can visit the website at ctsi.nsn.us.
Rep David Gomberg (D, Otis) passed Senate Bill 1599, effectively ignoring the
The facility offers a measured walking track within the building so those that want to avoid the rain or cold outside can do some easy walking inside. 
The facility features self admitting doors via a downloadable app with Taylor noting that entire facility is well lit and covered by cameras in all workout areas for everyone’s safety.
Stop by Point Break Fitness for a free consultation and fitness evaluation. Located in the Outlets in Suite 208 or call 541-614-4145.
SALEM, Oregon— Starting March 30, 2026, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will no longer waive the parking fee at 22 additional day-use parks.
The City of Lincoln City announces the following upcoming meetings
ODFW Weekly Recreation Report
“If you receive an unsolicited text message claiming to be from ODOT or DMV saying you owe money for an unpaid traffic fine or toll balance, it’s a scam. Do not click any links or provide payment or personal identifying information,” said Oregon DMV Public Information Officer Chris Crabb. “These are fake messages designed to steal your personal and financial information. We recommend you delete the message and block the sender.
